BORDEAUX – Ukrainian footballer Danylo Ignatenko says he thought of joining other sports figures in returning to defend their country against the Russian invasion but he believes it is better he carries on playing football.
The 24-year-old midfielder – presently on loan at French Ligue 1 strugglers Bordeaux from Shakhtar Donetsk – broke down in tears at training a fortnight ago when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion.
However, his morale has been boosted by Bordeaux helping in extricating some of his family from Ukraine. The family members are now living with him.
Ignatenko thanked the club at a press conference today but remains concerned by the plight of those who failed to get out.
“I am worried for those who have remained in Ukraine,” he said.
“My father stayed there, my grandmother and other members of my family did as well.
“I try not to watch the news. I focus on the football.”
Ignatenko admitted he had considered following the examples of heavyweight boxing world champion Oleksandr Usyk and Sheriff Tiraspol manager Yuriy Vernydub in returning to fight.
“Of course, I thought about it (going back to fight).
“If I thought it would help my country I would have done so but unfortunately this situation is going to last for a while and the best I can do is to carry on playing football.
“I did not think of breaking my contract with Bordeaux.
“In any case, no one thought at the outset of the invasion this conflict would last so long.”
Ignatenko says he is affected by what is going on as he knows intimately the cities being attacked – he had two loan spells with Mariupol and also turned out for Dnipro.
“I have friends in those cities, it really hurts me to see people dying, children being killed and the conflict going on and on.
“I do not want to think about that. The only thing I want to do is to pray for those who have remained behind.”
Ignatenko will turn 25 on Sunday when he hopes to realise a “kid’s dream” in playing at the Parc des Princes against Paris Saint Germain.
Although Bordeaux are bottom and PSG are the runaway leader the latter are vulnerable after a dire exit in the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid on Wednesday.
“It will be the best present I could receive to play against this club,” said Ignatenko.
“I have dreamed from time to time of scoring against them, and my family have said if I do that on Sunday, they will leave the house and run from Bordeaux to Paris crying ‘he scored a goal, he scored a goal.’” – AFP, March 11, 2022
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